Sectional self-supporting golf bag



pril 4, i950 L. T. MARTIN sEc'rIoNAL SELF-SUPPORTING GOLF BAG Filed May 12, 1947 IlI INVENTOR.

TORNEY.

Patented pr. 4, i1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SECTIONAL SELF-SUPPORTING GOLF BAG Leslie T. Martin, Kansas City, Mo.

Application May 12, 1947, Serial No. 747,357

Claims.

This invention relates generally to the eld of recreation and particularly to the well known game of golf, the primary object being to provide a golf bag formed from a plurality of individual sections so disposed and interconnected that the bag is rendered self-supporting when one end of the sections thereof are shifted to an extended condition.

The most important object of this invention is to provide a golf bag having a number of elongated hollow stalls, each having a normally uppermost end open for receiving the handles of the golf clubs and being provided with interconnecting hinge means permitting swinging the lowermost ends of the stalls to and from an extended position where the same becomes selfsupporting.

Another important object of this invention is to provide in a golf bag having the aforesaid hingedly interconnection sections, pivotally connected linkage joining the sections to limit the outward extended movement thereof, and structure cooperable with the linkage for supporting the sections and holding the same in juxtaposition while the bag is being carried.

Other objects of this invention include the specific formation of the aforesaid sections to simulate a conventional golf bag when the same are together; the way in which the hinge means is formed vby interconnecting rings and relatively swingable hinge elements to the end that all of the sections are rendered swingable; and the manner in which the proximal sides of the stall sections are formed for complementary interiitting when the bag is collapsed.

Many minor objects will be made clear or become apparent throughout the following speciiication, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sectional selfsupporting golf bag made in accordance with my present invention, showing the same with the stall coverings entirely removed and in the extended condition.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of the golf bag in the collapsed condition, parts being broken away to reveal details of construction.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the hinges per se, and

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of a modified form of sectional golf bag.

The golf bag chosen for illustration comprises three stalls generally designated by the numerals I0, I2 and I4 respectively, each of said stalls including a hollow elongated body having a normally uppermost open end, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 1. Except for specic contour, these sections I, I2 and I4 are Substantially identical and, therefore, only one will be explained. A bottom I6 is cup-shaped to present an upwardly extending ange I8, and a plurality of loop members 20, 22 and 24 of identical form are joined together and to. the bottom wall I6 through the medium of a number of longitudinally disposed rods 26. In the case of sections IU and I2, the loop members 20, 22 and 24, as Well as the bottom I6, are triangular-shaped, having a pair of flat edges 28 and 30 and a substantially semi-circular edge 32. The cross sectional area of each of the sections I 0 and I2 is virtually one-half the size of the cross sectional area of the section I4, as illustrated in Fig. 3. 'I'he loop members 20, 22 and '24 of the section I4, as Well as the bottom I6 thereof, are substantially semi-circular, having a pair of legs 34 and 36 joined by an arcuate edge 38. The legs 34 and 36 diverge as the outermost ends thereof are approached as shown in Fig. 3, to render this portion of section I4 complementary to the legs 28 and 30 of the loop members 20, 22 and 24 and bottom I 6 of sections In and I2 respectively.

When the sections I0, I2 and I4 are disposed in juxtaposition, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, a cylindrically shaped, unitary body, simulating a conventional golf bag, is presented. When the bag is thus collapsed, al1 of the edges 28 of section I 0 face the edges 34 of section I4, the edges 30 of section I2 face edge 36 of section I4 and the edges 30 of section IIJ face the edges 28 of section I2. The loop members 20 of the sections I0, I2 and I4 respectively define the uppermost open end of these sections while the loop members 22 and 24 are disposed intermediate the ends of these sections respectively. The tie rods 26 may be joined to these loops 20, 22 and 24 and to the flange I8 of bottom I6 in any suitable manner, such as by welding or otherwise fusing the same together. The sections I0 and I2 are each preferably formed by using three longitudinal rods 26, one disposed at each corner of: the loops 20, 22 and 24 and bottom I B. A fourth rod 2E is used in section I4, disposed at the point of merger between edges 34 and 36.

A covering of canvas 40 or other iiexible material is stretched over the loop member 20 and bottom I 6 of each section and extends the entire length of the sections in circumscribing relation to the loops 20, 22 and 24 and bottom I6. When so mounted on the framework shown in Fig. 1,

this covering 40 presents a stall for receiving the handles of the golf clubs. Any suitable means for securing the canvas covering 40 to the framework may be used, such as stitching, rivets or the like, passing through a number of perforations 42 and 44 formed in the flange portion I8 of bottom wall I6 and loop 20 respectively.

The uppermost ends of the sections I and I2 are hingedly joined through the medium of a pair of rings 43,` passing through openings 45 formed in adjacent edges 28 and 30 of the loops 2B of the sections I2 and I0 respectively. The sections I0 and I2 are joined to the section I4 through the medium of a pair or hinges, each made as illustrated in Fig. 4. One of these-hinges broadly designated by the numeral 46, is secured to each of the sections I0 and I-2 and comprises a pair of elements 48 and 5D. The element 56 constitutes a pair of plates 54 and 56, interconnected through the medium of a pair of bolts or the like 58. The.ed`ges;34"and"36 ofthe loop 20 of section I4, as the case may be', are interposed between these plates 54 and.55` and the bolts 58 pass through openings formed in such edges 34 or 36. The plate 54threadably receives the bolts 58to the end that the hinge 46 is clamped to the loop 20. The element48 constitutes a conventional leaf spring. leaves thereof being hingedly joined by a connecting pin and one leaf thereof is pivotally secured to the plate S of element 50 through the medium of a pin 60. The other leaf of this element 48 is secured to the edge 28 or 30, as the case may be, of sections I0 and I2 respectively.

Thus it is seen. that after, the three sections I0,

I2 and I4 are swungoutwardly away from each otherY from the condition illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 to that shown in Fig. 1., the sections IU and I2 will swing relativeto each other through the hinge connection afforded. byy the rings 43. By the same token, boththesections IIland I2 will swing outwardlyfrom the section I4 because of the use of thepai'r of 'hinges 4E. The hinge element 48 permits sections. I0 and I2to swing away from section. I4 and. the. pivotalA connection BU of hinge 46 permits sections Ill.` and I2.to.swing outwardly relative to each other. The outward swinging movement of the sections I0, I2 and I4 is limited by the provisionof interconnected linkage, illustratedin. Figs. 1. and 2. This linkage includes an arm 62 extending laterally and inwardly from the loop.24-of-section IIII adjacent the point of merger between edges 34v and 36 of this loop 24. Eachof. the: loops24- of sections I0 and I2 carries a pin 64 upon -which is pivotally secured one end of alink and 68 respectively.

The opposite end of these. links. 66 and 68 are pivotally secured to pin 10, mounted upon the free end of the arm 62. When the golf bag is collapsed to the condition illustrated in Fig. 2, these links .66' and 68.fold inwardly to a position substantiallyparallel tothearm 62, permitting the sections I0 and I2 to be moved into juxtaposition .with each. otherand. .with the section I4. A second arm 12. extends laterally and inwardly from the loop 22 of section I4 in substantially the same manner asdoes the arm 62. A relatively stiff handle 14has one end thereof .fastened to the outermost free end yoi arm 12 and its opposite end secured in any suitable manner to the arm B2 .adjacent its outermost free end. A relatively flexible strap 15 has a snap fastener 18 on one end thereof for attachment to one of the rings 43 and the opposite end of thisstrap 1E is attached to the arm 62 through'the'medium of a buckle 8. It is readily seen that when the bag is moved to the collapsed condition, the arms 62 and 12 are disposed between the sections I0 and I2 and cooperate with the links 6B and 68 to hold these sections I0 and I2 in the collapsed condition when the bag is carried either by the handle 14 or through the medium of the shoulder strap 16. In the form of golf bag shown in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, and just described, the arcuate portions 32 of the sections I0 and I2 and the portion 38 of section I4 cooperate to present a substantially cylindrical golf bag.

This particularly shaped bag may be altered in any desired manner and particularly as illustrated in Fig. 5 of the drawing. It is to be noted that in this figure the cross sectional contour of the bag is elliptical or substantially egg shaped. Such form is attained by varying the contour of the curved portions of the loop members forming the frame and presents a golf bag that is even more convenient to handle than the circular shaped golf bag shown in Figs. l to 3 inclusive.

It is contemplated further that a golf bag of this character may well be made, having more than the three sections illustrated and by the same token with only a pair of sections; In the latter instance, the section I4 would be substantially as shown and the other section would be the same size as the combined size of sections I0 and I2. In such instance a partition would divide the combined section into a pair of stalls, such partition being disposed to present a pair of stalls having the same cross sectional contour as that illustrated in either Fig. 3 or 5.

It is clearly understood from the foregoing that the golf bag forming the subject matter of this application is entirely self-supporting when the three stalls I0, I2 and I4 are extended and these stalls readily return to a collapsed condition when the operator grasps either the handle 14 or the carrying strap 16. When the bag is standing in the upright position, the golf clubs are disposed at easy reach and no damage to the bag will occur from wet grass or ground, as usually occurs when the conventional bag is laid in a horizontal plane.

While many changes and modifications may be made in the sectional self-supporting golf bag above described, it is desired to be limited only by the spirit of this invention and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described-the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A golf bag of tlrekind described, comprising a plurality of hollow, elongated stalls, each having an open end, therebeing a main stall and a number of secondary stalls, said stalls all being normally disposed in mutual juxtaposition; and means for hingedly; interconnecting the stalls at said open ends thereof, formed to permit swinging of all of said stalls outwardly -to and from a position placing the opposite ends thereof in spaced apart relation respectively".

2. A golf bag of thekind described', comprising three hollow, elongated stalls, each having an open end, said stallsall' being normally disposed in mutual justaposition, said stalls having complemental, confronting surfaces when disposed in juxtaposed position, thereby forming a golf bag of independent compartments and generally cylindrical outline; and means for hingedly interconnecting the stalls at said open ends thereof, said stalls being swingable outwardly to and from a position placing the opposite ends thereof in spaced apart relation respectively.

3. A golf bag of the kind described, comprising a plurality of hollow, elongated stalls, each having an open end, said stalls all being normally disposed in mutual juxtaposition, said stalls having complemental, confronting surfaces when disposed in juxtaposed position, thereby forming a golf bag of independent compartments and overall, generally cylindrical outline; a flexible covering for said juxtaposed stalls, and means for securing it to the peripheral outline of the juxtaposed components of the golf bag; means for hingedly interconnecting the stalls at said open ends thereof, said stalls being swingable outwardly to and from a position placing the opposite ends thereof in spaced apart relation respectively; and means for limiting the extent of outward movement of the stalls, said last mentioned means comprising a link on each stall intermediate the ends thereof, said links being pivotally interconnected and serving to join the stalls.

4. A golf bag of the kind described, comprising a plurality of hollow, elongated stalls, each having an open end, said stalls all being normally disposed in mutual juxtaposition, said stalls having complemental, confronting surfaces when disposed in juxtaposed position, thereby forming a. golf bag of independent compartments and overall, generally cylindrical outline; a flexible covering for said juxtaposed stalls, and means for securing it to the peripheral outline of the juxtaposed components of the golf bag; means for hingedly interconnecting the stalls at said open ends thereof, said stalls being swingable outwardly to and from a position placing the opposite ends thereof in spaced apart relation respectively; and means for limiting the extent of outward movement of the stalls, said last mentioned means comprising a link on each stall intermediate the ends thereof, said links being pivotally interconnected and serving to join the stalls, certain of said links having pivotal connection with their respective stalls.

5. A golf bag of the kind described, comprising a plurality of hollow, elongated stalls, each having an open end, said stalls all being normally disposed in mutual juxtaposition, said stalls having complemental, confronting surfaces when disposed in juxtaposed position, thereby forming a golf bag of independent compartments and overall, generally cylindrical outline; a flexible covering for said juxtaposed stalls, and means for securing it to the peripheral outline of the juxtaposed components of the golf bag; means for hingedly interconnecting the stalls at said open ends thereof, said stalls being swingable outwardly to and from a position placing the opposite ends thereof in spaced apart relation respectively; means for limiting the extent of outward movement of the stalls, said last mentioned means comprising a link on each stall intermediate the ends thereof, said links being pivotally interconnected and serving to join the stalls; at least one handle having connection with certain of the stalls; and structure cooperable With said links for holding the stalls in juxtaposition when the golf bag is carried by said handle.

LESLIE T. MARTIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 646,869 Perkes Apr. 3, 1900 1,483,475 Osterhoudt Feb. 12, 1924 1,570,500 Kennedy Jan. 19, 1926 1,672,549 Thompson June 5, 1928 2,047,079 MacMurray July 7, 1936 2,070,254 Burgner Feb. 9, 1937 2,367,234 Mitchell Jan. 16, 1945 2,422,315 Robinson June 17, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 198,812 Great Britain June 14, 1923 

